PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Fluid Retention in the LabiaContribution from Kate Spence

'There are two close ups, one from 6 days after the birth, one from 13 and a half weeks after the birth. You can see the difference.

Apparently fluid retention in the labia is very common so I want people to know this, see this and see that it does get better too. I had no idea this would happen to me, no midwife had mentioned it, so it came as a shock. It felt so swollen I worried I would stay like that for life. Also because I had ended up having an emergency c section I was scared it could be something wrong with the wound that was causing extra swelling. I was really quite uninformed. I think I had been so scared of the birth all through pregnancy that I had avoided looking into what could happen too much, especially in regards to c-sections. Actually all the things I was most scared of happening, happened. The birth, the labour was long lasting five days. The pain relief I finally begged for didn't work, it just paralysed and numbed my legs. I had two inductions and finally an emergency c-section. So not the water birth I had hoped for.

The two photos of me and Yves (below), the first one is 6 days post birth, the second one is 13 and a half weeks after the birth.My body is healing very well now although my relationship with it has become quite severed. I definitely feel detached and alien.

I still struggle with my body but being a parent extinguishes the time and energy I may have put into hating it in the past. Now my time and energy goes to my Son, I am more fearsome and fearless than ever before. I love greater than I ever thought possible. I would take anyone on to protect my Son. I'm making the most of this special time.I feed my body and rest and exercise so it will be better able to look after him.'

Story shared by Kate Spence - Artist'All my art work is currently about trauma and the process of re living, remembering again and again, and attempting to transform, to reclaim and make peace. Or if not peace, resolution.'